Clinical Rashford Spearheading United's Attack With Aplomb

It didn’t take long for Marcus Rashford to announce himself to the Manchester United faithful. Having been thrown into the starting XI against Danish side FC Midtjylland as a result of Anthony Martial’s injury in the warm up for the Europa League fixture back in February, Rashford netted his first senior goal after 63 minutes before bagging his second and United’s third with 15 minutes to play as the Manchester side ran out 5-1 winners. 

Of course, the victory was not the first time Rashford’s name was mentioned. Back in November, manager Louis van Gaal brought up the teenage sensation when United ran out late 2-1 victors against Watford. The English frontman was an unused substitute at Vicarage Road, a match in which Van Gaal described Rashford as a “fantastic talent” in his post-match press conference. Even Van Gaal, though, could not have foreseen such a rise to prominence. 

In his 12 senior starts to date, Rashford has seven goals to his name, four of which have come in the Premier League. These aren’t insignificant goals either, but ones that have turned matches in United’s favour, with his four goals gaining the club seven points this season. Furthermore, the striker netted what proved to be a decisive goal in the FA Cup win at West Ham, with Rashford rifling a fine effort into the top corner to set United on their way to the semi-finals of the competition. 

It’s indeed been a whirlwind few months for Rashford, who has gone from promising youngster to first choice striker, though that is in part down to Wayne Rooney’s injury and Van Gaal’s decision to play Martial on the left wing. Nevertheless, when presented with the chance to stake a claim for a regular starting spot, Rashford has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. 

While this has been a season to remember for all the wrong reasons for United, they can take solace in the development of a number of their academy products, including Rashford, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. Van Gaal’s legacy will be United’s youth, should he depart Old Trafford for pastures new this summer, with the Dutchman credited with selling off the deadwood at the end of last summer. 

Van Gaal wanted to keep a small squad for the sole purpose of promoting youth should injuries occur, with this the best way of playing the younger players and while his hand has been forced by a lengthy injury list, he’s been able to bring the club’s academy products into the senior squad to gain them valuable experience. He’s been rewarded for his faith as Fosu-Mensah’s defensive performances and Rashford’s goals have shown. 

Of course the period of improvement has not been smooth sailing, with Van Gaal handing Rashford a dressing down in front of his teammates at the interval of the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham earlier this month before he was withdrawn at half time for Ashley Young. While this could have had an adverse effect on the player, Rashford responded accordingly with goals against West Ham and Aston Villa.

The manager is clearly being rewarded for the faith he has placed in the young striker, despite there being a hint of fortune at his rise to the fore. Of players to score four or more Premier League goals this season, Rashford has the best conversion rate (44.4%), with the striker presented with just nine shots on goal from his seven Premier League starts. Impressively, though, is the consistency with which he hits the back of the net. Over his 12 appearances this season, Rashford has hit the target with 10 shots, returning an on-target conversion of 70% in all competitions. 

With chances few and far between for Van Gaal’s United side, Rashford’s prolificacy is a huge boost for the team. Capable of either making runs in behind the defence or coming short to collect the ball, the air of unpredictability coupled with his raw natural talent means Rashford is a difficult player to keep in check and he is clearly maximising the uncertainty to his game in order to penetrate opposition defences. 

While talk of a place in the England squad for Euro 2016 may prove premature on the back of 12 senior starts, particularly with the likes of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge ahead of him in the striking stakes for the national team, Rashford’s performances suggest the future is bright for the teenager. There is still work to be done to fulfill his potential, with Rashford very much a diamond in the rough, but he’s quickly taken to the rigours of top-flight football like a duck to water, boosting United’s chances of domestic glory and a top-four finish this season.

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